New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-12

NIT indeterminate sentences. and provide Tor
conditional discharges from the institution. It
has been tnied in otherstates with most crafty
ing results.
! ,sunpIEHs' ,HoME
The Minnesota, department Of the Grand Arm,
OF the Republic at its last annual encamp1lent
appointed committee to present to your body
j the subject Of the establishment OF q home for
disabled, INDECENT veterans residing in the
state, and Of temporary provision for the re-
lief of such veterans as might not wish to be-
come occupants of a soldiers home. desire to
supplement the appeal Of that committee by the
expression of an earnest hope that the necessary
appropriation will be made by your body to
carry out the objects specified. There is no OBJ
! legation more sacred or binding upon the peO-
pie of this country than that ample provision
should be made for thelcare and comfort in their
declining years of the veterans of the late war,
! who from disability or misfortune become needy
port cites cases of disabled ldiers who are now
cared for in some Of our county poorhouses.
This is discredit to the honor and patriotism
OF Minnesota IL is unworthy OF the proud rec
ord these veterans made for our scate during the
1 war. The Grand Army of the Republic ask not
for charity for their comrades, but rather for
the discharge of an obligation the state in
CURED when she sent her sons to the front to
risk their all in defense of the republic Their
peace and prosperity which is the present heri-
tage OF us all, and the obligation is ours that in
their last days they may be made to realize in
fullest measure that their services are reme1n-
bered with gratitude by their countrymen. The
homes provided by the general government are
already overcrowded, and many of the states
made provision for their disabled veterans.
Minnesota should not be laggard in the perform
ance OF so grave duty. With a view of aiding
you in the consideration of this subject, [ have
obtained from several of the states such printed
matter as could be supplied relating to the es-
Establishment and management OF their soldiers
homes, which is herewith transmitted for your
information. The condition of the state finances
may not warrant the purchase of grounds and
the erection of buildings at the present time,
but there should be no delay in provision for
temporary aid. Our experience in the case of
soldiers orphans furnishes a hint of the means
by which her funds may be applied to furnish
immediate and sufficient relief with the least
possible waste in admlnis-ra
PUBLIC HEALTH.
/ The functions of the state and local boards of
health were materially enlarged and their
efficiency correspondingly increased by the leg
islation of 1885 respecting the control of infec-
tious diseases of animals, the regulation Of Of
| fensive trades. the supervision Of sources of
water supply, and the act reorganizing and de-
fning the duties of local boards The state
board has now effected very thorough sani-
tary organization throughout the state, and
through its efficient executive officer, DR.. G. N.
Hewitt, keeps a watchful eve upon every town
1.OO
| boards, prompt information is received of the
| presence of any epidemic Of Infectious disease
In any quarter among men or animals, and
equally prompt measures are applied for its iso-
! laslon and suppression. The value and import
ance of such an organization has been repeatedly
demonstrated in the successful management by
| the board through its agency of several out
| breaks OF smallpox and dphtheria in widely
separated districts, and of particularly aggra
| waited outbreak OF CHAMBERS in horses in 1885.
The board has adopted elaborate precaution-
|, airy measures to protect the herds of the state
| against pleuro-pneumonia. which has recently
| developed to an alarming extent among cattle in
| states to the south and east of us. The danger
OF q spread of the infection to Minnesota is re-
garded as remote but in the event of its appear
ance here most energetic measures for its quar-
antlne and extirpation have been prepared.
Doubtless the most valuable service performed
by our boards of health is in the line OF prevent
i've work. They seek, by the adoption of
| thorough system of sanitation in our cities and
| towns, careful scrutiny of sources of water
supply and their protection from pollution, the
the imposition OF proper regulations and
straints upon offensive trades and employments,
| and Kindred measures, to preserve the public
| health by the prevention Of disease The value
| OF this character of work cannot be measured by
results. but its benfits being unconsciously
realized by every inhabtant OF The state.
"A caraful collation. of the vital statistics OF the
state would prove of great value our boards of
| health as well as to the general public. AS
collected they ale practically worthless for any
purpose, as they bear no pretense of accuracy
| mendation. made to your predecessors. that the
collection of such statistics be placed by law in
! charge of the state board of health.
| AS the danger of the appearance of cholera in
| this country tas not wholly passed, 1 recon-
! mend a renewal of the contingent appropriation
made in 1885, to meet expenses arising from
such an emergency,
. The recommendation of the state board Of
health respecting amendments to the statutes
will doubtless receive your early examination
| and approval.
| r. PUBLIC EXAMINER.
| esDecialiv commend tn vonr attention the
| report Of the public examiner. His lucid EXPOSE
| ton of he defects in our system of administer
| tering the public revenues should command
| thoughtful study. with view Of a thorough re-
vision Of the methods now in use. His sugges-
1 tions and recommendations are too voluminous
for recapltulation here I desire. however, to
call your attention especially, as have that of
your predecessors, to the loose, inconsistent and
insecure methods which prevail respecting the
funds by county officials. The receipts for the
county treasures Of the state for the year end
ing February, 1886. were in excess of So, 900.
600. The present system provides no CHI
| whatever upon county treaSurerS for q verI
| ton of their transactions covering this VAST
sum. All vouchers and entries pertaining to
| the receipt OF these millions of the peoples
| money are practically within the control of
| the treasurer alone. One would suppose that
taxpayers OF the state, but it has been re-
! peated in this form and by the public examiner
from year to year, and received no heed. This
state OF things is accountable for the occasional
defalcattOns Of county treasurers reported from
time to time, and is standing temptation to
their frequent recurrence. The evident remedy
! Is suggested by the examiner, that all receipts
/ for money should originate in the auditors
4 Office, thus providing an accurate and effective
check upon all transactions of the treasurer. I
venture to express the hope that this session
will not close without legislation necessary TO
| effect this reform
The recent rapid development of the state, and
! the corresponding increase in the number OF
moneyed corporations over which the examiner
exercises supervision under the law, has greatly
i added to the S:,Etes of his office. The work he
counts of county officers has increased threefold
since the office was established in 1878. Ops
continued growth must constantly add to the
labor imposed upon him He already finds it q
i physical impossibiitty TO comply with the re-
quirs1hents of the law regulating his duties, and